Page 106 - AFL Queensland 2014 in Review

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GROGAN MEDAL &
Labrador’s Ryan Davey claimed his second Grogan Medal in three years, claiming the QAFL’s highest individual footballing honour.
Davey, who shared the medal with two others in 2012, was a sole winner this time around, finishing with 26 votes, eight votes clear of Palm Beach’s Jesse Derrick, despite missing seven home and away matches.
Morningside’s Paul Shelton finished third with 15 votes, ahead of Mt Gravatt captain, Joe Murphy, and his Panthers co-captain, Tyson Upton, both on 13.
It was déjà vu for the 28 year-old, whose 2014 season has followed an eerily similar pattern to that of 2012, with a foot injury suffered at Mt Gravatt’s Dittmer Park keeping him out for lengthy stints in both seasons.
Davey was a clear standout for the umpires, polling votes in every match he played, including top votes in six matches.
By the time of his injury, Davey was a runaway leader in the count, 13 votes clear of Derrick at the end of Rd 14, making him unassailable with four matches left.
Davey’s standout qualities were not missed by the QAFL coaches, either, with the 28 year-old winning the Syd Guildford Trophy, 13 votes clear of Shelton.
AWARDS The midfielder’s double win is the third since the Trophy’s inception, after
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Matthew Payne in 2006 and Nathan Gilliland in 2009.
Palm Beach’s Brad Scheer, the QAFL’s youngest player, claimed the Rising Star award, in a close count, on 22 votes, three ahead of Morningside’s Rhys Power.
Broadbeach’s Taylor Haley won the Ray Hughson Medal, as the QAFL’s leading goal kicker, with 61 goals in the home and away season.
Morningside lead all comers in the QAFL team of the year, with seven representatives in the side, with Paul Shelton, Nathan Kinch, Nick Tomlinson, Kent Abey, Matthew Logan, Peter Mollison, and Tyson Upton all included.
Davey was named at rover in the team, one of four Labrador representatives, along with Kurt NIklaus, Tom Daniel and Simon Seddon while Palm Beach had Derrick, Todd Bryant and Josh Woolley in the team.
Wilston Grange duo, Matt Trewhella and Steve Brittain flew the Gorillas’ flag in the QAFL’s top 22, while Mt Gravatt also boasted two inclusions, with Joe Murphy and Adam Boon in the side.
Haley was the sole Broadbeach representative, while Michael Stewart (University of Queensland) , Cassidy Haberfield (Surfers Paradise) and Ben Jaenke-Cain (Western Magpies) were all recognised for impressive seasons.
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